Inclass/Typed Questions
Hi, FOLKS - For the first typed Essay-Question - due next Thursday 1/30 - I've decided on proposing an OPEN FOCUS - that is, you pick a passage/scene/moment/person/... from the assigned pages in SLC (= Ch.3 - pp.40-68) that grabbed/interested/intrigued/ you (= made you think/reflect/gave you food for thought) and explain WHY you chose it. I'll ask you tell our class about your individual choice and your reason for selecting what you did. I'll collect them, of course. Thanks.
Greetings, Folks - For this Thursday 2/13, read, as in Syllabus, Chapter 14. Pay very close attention to the culmination of the Chapter: it is a scene in Anne's room where Marie Claire "reveals" something unusual to Anne, hitherto unnoticed by her. Describe it. What does it symbolize? Now, while this "something" is astonishing in itself, Anne notices odd occurrences taking place in the room. These have, for us as readers, parallels to earlier moments in the story. So, REread, while being on the lookout for parallels, pages 6 + 25-26 + 54 + 63 + 70-71. Having done that, IDENTIFY the parallels as they appear in the culmination-part of Chapter 14 - that is, WHAT are the puzzling (to Anne) occurrences? AND, how would you explain them? = WHO, or WHAT, is causing them? AND, in your opinion, might the title of the novel be a clue at this point? Whether YES or NO, explain your answer.
What to do: 1) read & REread; 2) TYPE!!! your 1-page essay-answer responding to the points raised in the above; 3) bring it to class and be prepared to discuss your ideas together as a seminar-group, writing in pen/pencil any additions/emendations/thoughts which come to you during the class-period; 4) one person (chosen today, Tuesday) will collect them and bring them to the Secretary of HUM/MCS @ Maclean 326. I'll return them to you next Tuesday. I'm sure that you'll have an interesting discussion - I'll miss it! So, give me your best work TYPED, and you'll make my weekend! Thanks. KCz
Hi, FOLKS - Regarding the Essay-question of Tuesday 2/25, it won't be a hand-written In-class E-q; rather, it will be just like the very first one, as described above - please read. In short, the OPEN FOCUS topic of your choice derived from the assigned pages from SLC: 148-166 = Ch. 7. To be typed, brought to class, and collected after EACH and EVERY one of you has expressed himself or herself. So, like a true seminar, all voices will be heard contributing to a fruitful & thought-full dialogue/conversation-discussion. Thanks. KCz
Greetings, Folks - For Thursday 3/27, we WILL have an In-class Question - as you read the first 33 pages = 1st 3 chapters of PLR, pay particular attention to the character named Jeremiah Land who "possesses" what might be called supernatural gifts, tho' he really isn't self-aware as to his capability. I'll ask a question with him as the focus - a paragraph answer to be written in class. Also, pay attention to chapter-titles - they are symbolic clues to the themes of all the chapters. Be prepared to reply, at any time, to "WHY a given chapter title?" = that is, "WHAT is the meaning of a given chapter-title - in terms, of course, of the given chapter's narrative contents?"
Folks, as I explained today (with apologies for not having made myself clear last Thursday), your next typed Question is for this Thursday 4/10. Here is your focus: In the assigned pages = 70-103 you will read - attentively, of course! - an extended passage in which Reuben tells us about a certain "miracle of God" that he witnesses, involving his father, Jeremiah, and the School Superintendent, "Chester the Fester" Holgren. In a solid half-page to 1-page 1) DESCRIBE what he witnesses - quote Reuben's key phrases, AND then (this is the more important part) 2) EXPLAIN Reuben's manifestly negative thoughts as he reacts to what took place - again quote key phrases. Take note that his negative statements deal with both what happens to Ch.H. and how he feels about it. ... And, folks, for general discussion on Thursday - and PLEEEEASE let's all be prepared to offer comments on our truly interesting novel: characters, scenes, themes, ... - we'll begin by explaining the titles as keys to the chapters as we move forward. AND we'll view parts of our video, with Leif Enger reading passages familiar to us all by Thursday.
Folks - As I reminded us all today, we WILL have an in-class question this Thursday 4/24 - and you have to be in class to WRITE it, thank you very much. So, here's your focus: In the pages assigned for this Thursday, specifically in the chapter called "The Throbbing Heart of News," you will come to a moment when Reuben learns from Swede that his father Jeremiah "went out driving with Mr. Andreeson." This is the "last thing" that he expected, given his father's antagonism toward the FBI guy. (See p.160: "... enemies." ... "... we do.") He is distressed, and asks, " Roxanna, how come Dad went?" In the full 2 pages that follow, Roxanna explains why J. went with M.A., revealing what she heard as to HOW Jeremiah came to that decision; she then tries to help R. to understand by drawing a parallel to his own Christmas corncrib-canoe-groceries experience. What I'd like you be able to write about in class is the manifestly spiritual experience (I'll call it "the dark night of Jeremiah's soul") that J. undergoes as heard by Roxanna. Be prepared to quote her - and quote J. through her - as evidence. And be able to describe J's physical state the morning after, as observed by Roxanna.